A very significant batting achievement in test cricket is scoring a century. As for bowlers, taking a five-wicket haul is usually considered their equivalent of a batsman scoring a century. The same player scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in the same test, has occurred 34 times and has been done by 24 distinct players. We will now have a look at ten players who did so.
1. Richie Benaud
Richie Benaud was a legendary cricket commentator in the 1990s. However, before that, he was a very reputed Australian spinner. Australia toured South Africa for a five-match series in 1958. In the fourth test, Australia batted first. Richie Benaud scored 100 runs in the innings. Later on, South Africa got bowled out for a low total and started batting again, following on. In this innings, Benaud had bowling figures of 5-84. Australia eventually won the match.
2. Wasim Akram
Pakistan toured Australia for a three-match series. In the second game, Pakistan batted first. Wasim Akram had a brilliant all-round show, throughout the match. He scored a half-century in the first innings. Then in the next innings, when it was his turn to bowl, he took five wickets, and had bowling figures of 5-100. Pakistan had a deficit of 84 runs. Now, when he again set out to bat, he scored 123 runs, and led to a significant lead to set as a target. The match ended up as a draw.
3. Imran Khan
Imran Khan was a Pakistani all-rounder. He was one of the most fantastic all-rounders of his time. This match was an example of his splendid all-round skills. Pakistan hosted India for a Test series. Pakistan bowled first. They bowled out India for 372, mainly due to Imran Khan's 6-98. Then, Pakistan scored 652, while Imran Khan scored 117. He was one among the four centurions of the innings. Then, Pakistan bowled out India for a short total, ensuring the target was very low, thanks to Imran Khan's 5-82.
4. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja achieved this feat in 2022. India batted first in a home test against Sri Lanka, and they had a dominant performance throughout the game. Batting first, Jadeja's 175 not out made India score 574. Then, during Sri Lanka's batting, Sri Lanka was at 161-4, from where they collapsed, as they lost six wickets for 13 runs. Jadeja took four of those wickets. Jadeja finished with figures of 5-41 in this innings.
5. Mushtaq Mohammad
The Pakistani all-rounder Mushtaq Mohammad was the second player after Garry Sobers to achieve this feat twice. In a game against New Zealand in 1973, he scored 201 and took a 5-49. Later on, in a match against West Indies in 1977, he scored 121 and took a 5-28. What makes these more remarkable is that, both of these were away from home.
6. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib Al Hasan is an all-rounder from Bangladesh. He has also managed to achieve this twice. Once in 2011, when Bangladesh hosted Pakistan. He scored 144 in the first innings, and took 6-82 in the next. The second occasion was when Bangladesh hosted Zimbabwe in 2014. Shakib scored 137 in the first innings. In the bowling department, he took 5-80 and 5-44.
7. Jack Kallis
Jack Kallis was an all-rounder from South Africa. He managed to achieve this feat twice. Once in 1999, when South Africa hosted West Indies. He scored 110 in the first innings, and took 5-90 in the final innings. The second occasion was when South Africa hosted Bangladesh in 2002. Kallis scored 139 not out in the South African innings and 5-21 in the final innings of the batting of West Indies.
8. Garry Sobers
Gary Sobers was an all-rounder from West Indies, and he was the first to achieve this twice. The first instance was when West Indies hosted India in 1962. Sobers scored 104 in the first innings, and took 5-63 in the final innings. The second instance was when West Indies toured England in 1966. Sobers scored 174 in the first innings, and took 5-41 in the next.
9. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin is an Indian all-rounder. He has managed to do this thrice. The first was when West Indies toured India in 2011. Ashwin took 5-156 in the first innings, and scored 103 in the next. Then in 2016, when India toured West Indies, Ashwin scored 113 in the first innings of the first test. He took 7-83 in the final innings. Later, in 2021, England toured India. In the second test, Ashwin took 5-43 and followed it up with a 106.
10. Ian Botham
Ian Botham was one of the most prolific all-rounders in Test cricket history. He scored a century and took a five-wicket haul in the same test, five times. He did it twice in 1978, once each in 1980,1981, and 1984. The centuries he scored in these games were 103, 108, 114, 149 and, 138, respectively. The fifers he took in these games were 5-73, 8-34, 7-48, 6-95, and 5-59. Moreover, in the 1980 game, in addition to the 7-48, he also took a 6-58. Ian Botham has had a particularly dominating effect in this feat.
